Re: Earthquake - Image of the fault line image..not comforting

yep - but the risk is higher along the edges of these plates, that's where the most damage occurs as the plates bash into each other and grind away the material along the edges, where they meet and crash into one another. all those dotted brown lines are the edges of the plates; that's where the highest risk is for the most devastating damage when one of the plates shifts. which is exactly what caused the Haiti quake.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">RichD, I may be splitting hairs but I believe it was 1907 when Kingston took the hit... </div></div>

yah, whatever, the date of previous quakes is irrelevant. There <span style="font-weight: bold">will</span> be more quakes all along those same plates and fault lines, over geologic time. that's a scientific fact, the tectonic plates are constantly moving and shifting. it <span style="font-weight: bold">is</span> only a matter of time, for real.

I heard on one of the news shows that JA would fare better in a massive quake like this simply because they learned from past quakes, and they have a building code. Haiti has no such code; most structures were non-reinforced concrete, which just crumbles like dried sand at the least provocation. i wish i could remember where i heard it to find some kind of source, but i can't find it - i just know that someone on CNN did the whole geologic explanation; they talked about the fult lines going thru JA and said the difference is, that JA builds to earthquake code. Reinforcing the concrete means that buildings could withstand a lot more stress, and therefore not just immediately crumble and pancake, like all the Haitian buildings did.

maybe only small consolation but still, having any 'earthquake resistant' building code in place makes a HUGE difference when the shaking starts.

Re: Earthquake - Image of the fault line image..not comforting

It is not that the plates really 'crash ' into each other, but what really happen is that they are actually sliding in opposite directions and due to the natural unevenness of the edges. It cause 'hangups'.
These hangups actually obstruct the movements of both plates. But since the pressure that cause the movements is constant, it keep building up behind that hangup
An earthquake happens because the hangup cannot take any more force and the piece is broken off.
This cause the release of all the pressure that was stored behind teh plates and the jolt forward in a snap.
That is the initial act, but sine the plates are actually floating on molten core of the planet, that experience reactive movements until they become locked together again through another of theor jagged sections.
So earth quake will not happen just about anywhere,but it can be felt on the other side of teh planet.
If you notice whenever ther is an earthquake in any area on the planet hours and days after corresponding tremors are felt about the opposite or the other end of the plate system. the <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sistacaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: H_O</div><div class="ubbcode-body">we could have an earthquake ANYWHERE </div></div>

yep - but the risk is higher along the edges of these plates, that's where the most damage occurs as the plates bash into each other and grind away the material along the edges, where they meet and crash into one another. all those dotted brown lines are the edges of the plates, so that's where the highest risk is for the most devastating damage when one of the plates shifts. which is exactly what caused the Haiti quake. </div></div>

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Re: Earthquake - Image of the fault line image..not comforting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If you notice whenever ther is an earthquake in any area on the planet hours and days after corresponding tremors are felt about the opposite or the other end of the plate system. </div></div>

Right. exactly why there were other subsequent quakes this week; a 4.5 in Venezuela on Friday and another 6.3 one this morning in Argentina.

Re: Earthquake - Image of the fault line image..not comfort

Someone was making the point on TV yesterday that LA had a similar earthquake in the late 80s early 90s and it resulted in less than 100 casualties. The point being made here is that a lot of the damage and casualties in Haiti was the result of poor construction - no steel being used in a lot of the buildings. This does not make light of the fact that it was a powerful quake but construction plays a big part in the degree of damage that will be done when a big one comes along. Other countries in the Caribbean would probably have fared better because of better construction and building standards.

Re: Earthquake - Image of the fault line image..not comforting

And when they state that the likelihood of the quake moving west is really speculation.
Since ther is currently no technology to identify which jagged edge will snap under the pressure .
It Could be in the same area, it could be any place wher ther id a hangup, that can be broken under the pressure.
And this can happen any time.
The difference is the longer the time between activity the greater the stored pressure and the more violent the potential.
The advantage with the caribbean is that there have been hundreds of tremors, and each tremor releases potential violent energy.
So it is theoretically saver whenever a plate has constant tremors,since it is a gradual release of energy.
Instead of suden, whichcause high energy quakes. <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sistacaf</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> If you notice whenever ther is an earthquake in any area on the planet hours and days after corresponding tremors are felt about the opposite or the other end of the plate system. </div></div>

Right. exactly why there were other subsequent quakes this week; a 4.5 in Venezuela on Friday and another 6.3 one this morning in Argentina. </div></div>

Join me as members of the church of LOVE,and let us change the world, one good deed at a time.